by Elder Russell M. Nelson
"My dear brothers and sisters, if the Restoration did anything, it shattered the age-old myth that God had stopped talking to His children. Nothing could be further from the truth."
There is a reason prophets are called prophets, seers, and revelators. These men, called by God, are our watchmen. They are the guard up on the high tower watching for dangers and enemies that are headed our way. Then they warn us and tell us what we can do to protect ourselves against these things. Are we listening? Are we heeded their command? Are we doing the things (big or small) that they ask us to do?
Each General Conference (and other times throughout the year), we are able to sustain the Prophet.
HOW DO WE REALLY SUSTAIN A PROPHET?
Elder Nelson quotes President Joseph F. Smith who explained, "It is an important duty resting upon the Saints who. . . sustain the authorities of the Church to do so not only by the lifting of the hand, the mere form, but in deed and in truth."
"The obligation that we make when we raise our hands. . . is a most sacred one. It does not mean that we will go quietly on our way and be willing that the prophet of the Lord shall direct this work, but it means. . . that we will stand behind him; we will pray for him; we will defend his good name, and we will strive to carry out his instructions as the Lord shall direct." - quoted from George Albert Smith
Let's review- Sustaining the prophet means we promise to:
1. Sustain Him
2. Pray for Him
3. Defend his good name
4. Strive to carry out his instructions as the Lord shall direct
"The living Lord leads His living Church! The Lord revel His will for the Church to His prophet."
We are reminded in D&C 1:38 (scripture mastery) that:
"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken,. . .whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servants, it is the same."
If you want to know what the future holds, listen to the prophet. He knows the way. If you want a free therapy session- read the general conference talks. In these talks are words of wisdom for how to strengthen and better yourself.
We are so blessed to live in a time when prophets are on the earth!
Did you notice how many talks during this Sunday morning session of conference made reference to importance of following the prophet and the blessings that come from heading their words?
-President Eyring: "Don't take lightly the feeling you get of love for the prophet of God. Wherever I go in the Church, whoever the prophet is at the time, member will ask, "When you get back to Church headquarters, will you please tell the prophet how much we love him?"
"That is far more than hero worship or the feelings we sometimes have of admiring heroic figures. It is a gift from God. With it you will receive more easily the gift of confirming revelation when he speaks in his office as the Lord's prophet. The love you feel is the love the Lord has for whomever is His spokesman."
"That is not easy to feel continually because the Lord often asks His prophets to give counsel that is hard for people to accept. The enemy of our souls will try to lead us to take offense and to doubt the prophet's calling from God."
-Elder Nelson (in this very talk- right after President Eyring's): "Often we sing, 'We thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet'. Do you and I really understand what that means? Imagine the privilege the Lord has given us of sustaining His prophet, whose counsel will be untainted, unvarnished, unmotivated by any personal aspiration and utterly true!"
"The Church today has been organized by the Lord Himself. He has put in place a remarkable system of governance that provides redundancy and backup. That system provides for prophetic leadership even when the inevitable illness and incapacities may come with advancing age. Counterbalances and safeguards abound so that no one man can ever lead the Church astray. Senior leaders are constantly being tutored such that one day they are ready to sit in the highest councils. They learn how to hear the voice of the Lord through the whisperings of the Spirit.)
Sister McConkie (the very next talk! Do you see a pattern going on here? That makes three talks in a row!): "In a world threatened by famine of righteousness and spiritual starvation, we have been commanded to sustain the prophet. As we give heed to, uphold and affirm prophetic word, we witness that we have the faith to humbly submit to the will, the wisdom and the timing of the Lord."
"We heed prophetic word even when it may seem unreasonable, inconvenient and uncomfortable. According to the world's standards, following the prophet may be unpopular, politically incorrect or socially unacceptable. But following the prophet is always right."
"Our sustaining of prophets is a personal commitment that we will do our utmost to uphold their prophetic priorities."
Now we have a world where people are confused.
If you don't believe it, go and watch the news.
We can get direction all along our way,
If we heed the prophets- follow what they say.
Follow the Prophet,
Follow the Prophet,
Follow the Prophet,
Don't go astray.
Follow the Prophet,
Follow the Prophet,
Follow the Prophet,
He knows the way!
Find Song HERE
---------Cute FHE idea by my friend Jocelyn HERE-------